The Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education meeting on Sept. 5 began on a somber note as Superintendent Deborah Flores paid tribute to Kimberly Ordaz, a beloved teacher in the district for 30 years who passed away peacefully in her home in early August.
“Kim has left a legacy which will never be forgotten,” said Flores, tears filling her eyes. “She has impacted the lives of many students and families.”
Ordaz’s husband, Chris, and two daughters, Kaylyn and Claire, were awarded a plaque in memoriam of Ordaz and the significant contributions she made to the community. Ordaz had most recently been a kindergarten teacher at Luigi Aprea Elementary School and was awarded GUSD Teacher of the Year in 2010.
“My wife used to be a kindergarten teacher with her and she was absolutely exemplary,” President of the Board Jaime Rosso said. “She was always highly regarded.”
Chris was overcome with emotion when awarded the plaque in his wife’s honor. He was unable to say more than a genuine “thank you” for the support his family has received.
Gina Chekouras named GUSD Teacher of the Year 2013
Also honored during the meeting was Gina Chekouras, who was selected in June as GUSD Teacher of the Year 2013. Approximately 50 members of the audience came to the meeting solely to watch Chekouras, a first grade teacher at Glen View Elementary School since 2005, receive her honorary plaque.
“I started out at Glen View and I am here to stay,” Chekouras said as parents and children in the audience rejoiced.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education will recognize all recipients of the Santa Clara County Teacher of the Year award at the 44th annual Teacher Recognition Celebration on Sept. 26 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell.
Custodial layoffs rescinded, deferred maintenance needs across district exceed $13 million
District finances are back under control after the County took over in February due problems with fiscal oversight, administrative errors, missed payments and a remarkably high staff turnover coming from the district’s business office. On Thursday, the Board of Ed. approved rescinding the reduction of three full-time custodians, as well as one part-time custodian, who had been laid off at the end of April when the district was in the midst of its fiscal mismanagement crisis.
Along with Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Alvaro Meza, Maintenance/Operations Manager Dan McAuliffe lead a discussion on the most pressing deferred maintenance needs the district will face in the 2013-14 school year.
During a previous Board of Ed meeting in July, Meza explained that deferred maintenance needs across the district exceed $13 million. The board, however, quickly responded that the district does not have anywhere close to those kind of funds readily available.
The board then requested a condensed list be presented at the Sept. 5 meeting of only the most dire maintenance needs. McAuliffe managed to shorten it down to $633,000 worth of maintenance projects necessary to keep buildings functioning, though he cautioned that these would not be long-term solutions.
“We’d essentially just be putting a Band-Aid on these projects,” McAuliffe said.
Maintenance needs deemed crucial by McAuliffe include:
-$234,000 worth of roofing repairs needed at Luigi Aprea, South Valley, Brownell and GUSD’s District Office
-$52,000 worth of interior and exterior painting at Glen View, Antonio Del Buono, Las Animas and South Valley.
“Deferred maintenance needs have been ignored for four years since the state crashed in 07-08,” Flores said. “It’s a matter of prioritizing our money with other competing interests.”
The next regular school board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at district offices, 7810 Arroyo Circle.
